Options and Opportunities (O2) offers students a
more hands-on learning experience. It's designed to help them make
successful transitions from high school to work, a career path or a
post-secondary program. The foundation of that plan is partnerships -
between government, school boards, schools, communities, parents,
students and employers. The Option and Opportunity,
O2 program is a program that benefits the whole school, It brings
funding and support, special programming and exposure, as well as
special events and guests to our school.

With the change to the NSCC enrolment last
year the current Grade 10's need to have the first two steps from the guide
in the link below for NSCC milestones requirements, completed before the end
of their Grade 10 year. This will insure that when they apply to NSCC as
early in the Grade 11 year as possible, they have their O2 designation on
any in progress transcript they send in. Note:
they will still have until October of their grade 12 year to change their
choice, but they have to pick something early to have that advantage.

It is important to
emphasise that NSCC looks for this designation on the transcript to verify
the awarding of an assured seat. Without it, the student’s application is
returned to the queue with other applicants, in the order of their date of
application.

Thus if steps 1 and 2 are done in Grade 10
and codes updated unless a student leaves the O2 program, no student will
mistakenly apply without the O2 designation.

<<< Click
for Important NSCC MIlestone Requirements for
O2 Students

These are some facts related to the O2 program:

It is a 3 year program that begins in grade 10

A student can only enter the program in grade 10

It is Not an individual course

It is actually a collection of courses which include all the
minimum requirements of any grade 12 graduate

In order to become a Grade 12 graduate in NS, you must acquire a
minimum of 18 credits,...a minimum collection of English, math, science,
fine arts etc; along with some electives

The average student enrolled for 3 years will often accumulate upwards
of 24 credits

These courses are designed to condition the student to be work
ready and explore the Options and Opportunities that are out there as they
actively begin to carve their way towards a career

Successful candidates receive a second certificate along with
their graduation certificate when they walk across the stage at the end of
their 3 year journey

the O2 certificate they receive upon graduation acts
as their preferential seating ticket @ NSCC, to be passed into the college
to secure their spot if they so choose to go to NSCC

St. Mary's University offers a $2,000.00/year X 4year renewable
bursary = $8,000.00 total, for O2 students only

Preferential seating actually begins grade 10 in the sense that O2
students will be given 1st, and often sole, consideration to participate in
field trips and special events that are deemed associated to O2.

40% of Nova Scotia high school graduates do not
complete their 1st choice post secondary program education. Hopefully this
program will help curve that particular stat.

Students can
apply on the first day of class of their Grade 11 year, and applications are
encouraged as early as possible in the academic year. The date on which a
completed application is received will determine priority status for the O2
student.

Grade 12

All O2
applicants mustsubmit their NSCC application and their Grade 12
in-progress transcript by September 30th of their Grade 12 year.

The grade 12
in-progress transcript will be used to identify if the applicant is enrolled in
the O2 program and therefore eligible for the priority status. If the
applicant fails to submit the Grade 12 in-progress transcript by September 30th,
the applicant will not be eligible for the priority status

If additional requirements (portfolio, letter of intent, etc.) are required,
they must be submitted by September 30th to complete the application.

If the
program choice has specific courses listed in its admission requirements (e.g.
Grade 12 Academic Math), these must be outlined on the Grade 12 in -progress
transcript.

Students
with IPP on their transcript

Any student
with an IPP in any Grade 12 course or their highest level Math course will be
required to take additional assessment to determine qualification for programs.

O2
student does not graduate ‘on time’.
O2 priority status is available only for the year following high
school completion. All admitted applicants at NSCC have the ability to defer
their admission for up to one year, but will forfeit O2 status and
maintain original application date.

The
Workit Youth Apprenticeship Initiative is a province-wide effort to fill the
increasing labour shortage in Nova Scotia's skilled trades. Whether you're a
youth, parent, educator or an employer, this site has the information you need
to learn more about the benefits of youth apprenticeship.